Hotel La Mirande

Major Problems: 1. We were locked out of the hotel for 20 -30 minutes at 11:30 pm. - Arrived before 11:30a and rang the buzzer (we could hear it ringing inside) - Perhaps they’re in the restroom - we waited a few minutes, we rang and knocked again. - We waited longer, “double rang” the buzzer, longer and harder. We knock louder, loud enough I felt rude! - We peeked through the curtains at the front desk - no one. - Perhaps they forgot to tell us about another entrance: walk around to the left, walk back around to the right. Knocked and rang again. - After trying all that, we made an intentional phone call - from my call history, 7 minutes in total no answer… - Finally desperate and considering other options my wife knocked on the outside reception window itself by the font desk, and the attendant popped up. This is dangerous and unacceptable. And when we spoke to the reception on staff at the time she made every effort to blame us, it’s why I outline the story, so management knows we “properly rang the bell”… and knocked, multiple times. And called! Trip Advisor doesn’t allow me to upload the screenshot of the phone call. 2. The internet is incredibly slow - thankfully I wasn’t trying to work, if I was it’d have been an impossibility, still general searching was frustratingly slow. Minor Issues: I normally wouldn’t include any one of these on their own, they’re silly little things, but in total and in combination with being locked out - and it being a 5 star hotel - they’re included. More than half the outlets in the room didn’t work. The toilet didn’t flush properly. The sink drain was fully plugged which we had to disassemble to correct. We asked for a steamer and an adapter and just got the adapter. They forgot to replenish our water the 2nd night. Room service walked in on us in bed. The bed was two twins not a king. The train pickup driver was rude and unfriendly. We booked a wine tour through the hotel, which repeatedly confirmed a 9:00 start by email. It actually began at 9:30. The hotel blamed us stating the tour guide arranged with us directly, but since the hotel managed our booking, they should have communicated any changes and reset our expectations. Checkout was slow and poorly handled. We were in a hurry for our train, reception was unfamiliar with processing room charges “my colleague hasn’t shown me”, I had to explain what, how much, and why I should be paying… and then she proceeded to blame me for payment issues(“you pressed the red button”) instead of owning the problem(no paper). The lack of accountability and efficiency made for a very frustrating experience. And I’m realizing now that the credit wasn’t applied to charges. 3 separate instances of lack of accountability I think is what got me the most. The good: It’s really a shame because the hotel, garden and decor is stunningly beautiful, reminded me of The Grand Budapest Hotel. The location is perfect, the breakfast was excellent, we ate at the Michelin restaurant on site which was lovely.

La Mirande is pure magic! You truly feel like you’ve been transported in time, in the best way possible. The staff was impeccable. Should out to the receptionist Louise that literally took my partner to the pharmacy and to get our car since it was after hours for valet. The entire hotel was absolutely spotless, even though it’s been around since the 16th century. The breakfast buffet spread was spectacular. There was not a moment while there that my partner and I did not feel special. We cannot wait to get the opportunity to go back.

I was startled to learn that when we arrived at the hotel, the Fete de Musique, or France-wide Music Festival, was happening that night. No one told us in advance. If I had known, I would have chosen a hotel further from the DJ blasting very loud music that reverberated in our room until 2 AM. We were only told at check-in and offered airplane-like spongy earplugs. No discount, no offer to host our dinner, no apologies!! This otherwise lovely hotel should have warned us in advance or reduced their rates to compensate for the fact that the DJ was stationed just outside our hotel. Also, the air conditioning was awful throughout the hotel, except in our room. Very unhappy guest who has traveled the world and believes she deserves the courtesy that was NOT afforded to us.

Go and enjoy the spirit of Provence here at La Mirande. We were welcomed with fresh fruit and a box of artisan chocolates. The breakfast buffet was my favorite experience here. You are steps from all of the historical sites and the air conditioning during the summer heat wave proved invaluable.

This lovely hotel is located just behind the Palais des Papes in Avignon, making it extremely convenient for walking around the historic center. The stone walls along the path to the palace make you feel as though you're stepping into the Middle Ages—it’s a magical experience. Breakfast is simple yet special, with homemade jams, dried fruits, and other touches that make each morning feel warm and personal. Every room, as well as the dining area, has a romantic atmosphere that makes your stay truly delightful. As it's a historic building, the bathrooms and facilities may feel a bit outdated, and you won’t find many modern systems. Still, the hotel makes every effort to accommodate guests comfortably, and we didn’t find these aspects to be a problem during our stay. Driving up to the hotel can be a bit tricky due to its location in the old town, so I recommend arriving with a driver who knows the local streets well. Overall, it’s a charming and memorable place to stay, full of character and warmth.